Teachers across Northern Ireland will commence industrial action short of a strike beginning on Monday, 28 September 2026, in response to ongoing disputes regarding what unions characterise as unmanageable workloads affecting both educators and school leaders.
The NI Teachers Council, which coordinates five teaching unions in the region, announced the decision after failing to secure commitments from employers and the Department of Education to implement workload reductions. Education Minister Paul Givan expressed disappointment with the unions' choice and urged them to continue negotiations and reconsider their position.
The dispute centres on the Department of Education's failure to deliver an implementation plan for 27 recommendations contained in the Independent Review of Workload. According to reporting on the ballot results, union members said there had been a "sustained failure" to deliver the workload plan, with no "credible implementation plan" having been produced.
What support did unions receive from members?
The unions conducted ballots between 10 June 2026 and 1 September 2026, with overwhelming backing for industrial action. According to NASUWT ballot figures, 92.04% of voting members supported strike action and 98.63% supported action short of strike, on a turnout of 54.89%. The INTO reported 91% support for strike action and 99% support for action short of strike from a 46% turnout, while the UTU recorded 71% support for strike action and 95% for action short of strike.
Why are unions taking this step?
The NASUWT, Northern Ireland's largest teaching union, stated that management "failed to offer any meaningful period of calm" in schools, which would have provided educators with sufficient space to plan and implement agreed workload reductions. Dr Graham Gault, national secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT NI), which represents the majority of school leaders in the region, expressed that members had reached a point where
they can no longer continue working in conditions that are unsafe, unsustainable and professionally indefensible.
He continued:
Unfortunately, despite every opportunity being afforded to them, employers and the department have been unable to produce a package capable of addressing the crisis facing school leadership.The ASCL Northern Ireland similarly noted that the ballot reflected concern over teacher workload and the implementation of the Independent Review of Teacher Workload recommendations.
What is the government's response?
Minister Givan stated that while "further work is required on a small number of issues", he believed there remained "scope" to reach an agreement. He has called on the unions to persist with negotiations rather than proceed with the planned action.
Which unions are involved?
Five teaching unions are participating in the industrial action: the NASUWT, the Ulster Teacher's Union (UTU), the NAHT, the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO), and the National Education Union (NEU).
What happens next?
Industrial action short of strike is scheduled to begin on Monday, 28 September 2026. According to union statements, a full strike could still be avoided if decisive progress is made on workload concerns before that date. The unions have indicated their willingness to pause escalation should the department and employers present a credible plan to address the 27 workload recommendations.
Key Facts:
- Industrial action short of strike begins Monday, 28 September 2026
- Five unions representing teachers and school leaders are involved in the dispute
- The action follows ballots conducted between 10 June and 1 September 2026, with support ranging from 71% to 92% for strike action and 95% to 99% for action short of strike
- The dispute concerns the Department of Education's failure to implement 27 workload reduction recommendations from an independent review
- A full strike remains possible if no credible implementation plan is delivered before action begins
